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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

W. MASON.

REVOLVING FIRE ARM.

No. 250,375. 1` Patented 1360.6, 1881.

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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

W. MASON.

REVOLVING FIRE ARM. No. 250,375. Patented Deo. 6,1881.

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PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM MASON, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE COLTS PATENT FIRE ARMS MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

REVOLVING FIRE-ARM.

' SFECIFICATION forming part of Letters Pate-nt No. 250,375, dated December 6, 1881.

(No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WM. MASON, of Hartford, in the county ot Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented a new Improvement in Revolvers, and I do hereby declare the following, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and thelctters of reference marked thereon, to be a l'ull, clear, and exact description ot' the same, and which said drawings constitute part ot this specification, and represent, in

Figure 1, a sectional side view; Figs. 2 to 13, inclusive, detached views.

This invention relates vto an improvelneutin revolvers, and particularly to that class in which the cylinder is arranged to swing outward from its place in the frame, so as to expose the chambers iu the cylinder for the insertion and removal of the cartridges or shells, the object ot' the invention being to provide an ejector which shall automatically operate to simultaneously throw all the shells or cartridges from the cylinder which may be in the chambers when it is turned outward from the frame; and the invention consists, essentially, in constructing a part ot the frame to serve as the cen ter-pin on which the cylinder revolves, the said part arranged to swing on a pivot., the axis of which is parallel with the axis of the cylinder, combined with an ejector arranged at the rear end of the cylinder to engage the heads of the several cartridges, and mechanism operated by the outward-swinging movement of the part of the frame which supports the cylinder, to give to the ejector the rear movement to force the shells or cartridges from their respective chambers, and also in detailsof construction more fully hereinafter described,

land particularly recited in the claims.

A represents the frame or receiver, of substantially the usual outline, constructed with a recess for the cylinder B, and provided with l the barrel C, hammer D, and lock mechanism,

substantially in the usual manner, whereby the cylinder is rotated to successively present the cartridges introduced into the chambers in line with the barrel for discharge. In the part of the frame forward of the cylinder a recess, E, is made in one side, as seen in Figs. 3 and 11, extending from the cylinder-opening to the forward end ofthe frame to receive the swinging part, or what I term the craue,

E. (Seen detached in Fig. 12.) This swinging part is provided with a spindle or pivot, E2, parallel with the axis of the cylinder, and which enters and fits a corresponding seat in the frame below the cylinder-opening, and so that it may readily turn on said pivot E2, as from the position in Fig. 2 to that indicated in Fig. 3.

On the swinging part E', above the pivot E2, parallel with it and concentric with the cylinder, is the center-pin E3, which forms the bearing ou which the cylinder turns. This pin is made tubular or hollow, as seen in Fig. 1, for the purpose hereinafter described. At the junction of the pin and the swinging part E', I form aprojection or shield,e, which will overlap the adjacent part of the frame and prevent gas from entering at the joint. The cylinder is fitted upon its cen ter-pin or bearing IE3 so as to turn freely thereon, and the relation of the parts is such that when the swinging part is closed, as in Fig. 2, the cylinder is in its place of rest in the frame; but when the swinging part is turned away, as in Fig.3, the cylinder moves out from its place in the frame sufficiently far to expose the chambers for the insertion or removal of the cartridges or shells. Within the center-pin E3 the ejector-rod F is arranged so as to move longitudinallytherein, and substantially concentric with the center-pin and cylinder. On the outer entLof this ejector-rod the ejector-plate F is arranged. This plate is of star shape, its arms j' (see Fig. 7) extending outward between the respective chambers, and so that when in its place in a recess in the rear end of the cylinder, as seen in Fig. 4., the said arms or part of the ejectorplate will lie at the rear edge ot' the chamber, so .that the heads ot' the cartridges inserted therein, or a portion of each, will rest on the said plate, so that when the ejector is thrown outward, as seen in Fig. 6, it will force the cartrid ges or shells from the chambers of the cylinder. This star-shaped ejector is Iwell known, and requires no further description in this pacification.

The ratchet F2, by which thecylinder is rotate'd, is attached to or made a part of the roo ejector-plate, as sccn in Fig. 6. To give the ejector the required rearward movement as the cylinder is turned outward, a follower, a, is arranged in the swinging partE parallel with the axis oi' the cylinder, and in line with the ejector-rod F and bearing against its forward end,as seen in Fig. l. For the purpose hereinafter described, this i'ollower c is made cecentric to the center-pin against the ejector-rod, as seen in Fig. 6,so that the rear movcmentof this follower c will correspondingly force the ejector rearward, as from the position in Fig. 1 to that seen in Fig. G.

Loose on the pivot E2 is a ring, l), (seen detached in Fig. 9,) which is free to turn on the spindle, yetwill turn with it when thc part E swings outward or inward.

0n the forward face of the ring b is a bevel segment-gear d, and forward of this ring, in the swinging part E', an arm is hung upon apivot, h, the axis of which is at right angles to the axis ot the ring. This arm is shown detached in Fig. 10.

At the lower end ofthe arm H, and concentric with its pivot, is a segment, d', corresponding to and so as to work in the teeth d of the ring b. Their relative arrangement, as seenn Figs. 1 andv 2, is so that their toothed portions d d work together like a pair of bevel-pinions; but instead of such gear-like teeth other devices may be employed to engage the arm.

As seen in Fig.1,the arm H is in its extreme forward position-that is, in place, with the ejector home. When the swinging part E' is turned outward, as before stated, the ring b will turn with it, the center of motion of the swinging part being the axis of the ring. therefore, the movement of the ring b be not interrupted, itcan have no eifect wh atever upon the arm H; but if during the swinging movementthe ring b be stopped,then, the swinging movement continuing, the teeth d' ot' the arm H,'which are swinging upon the same center as the swinging part, will be forced to travel through the then stationary teeth .d on the ring,'which will impart to the arm H a movement on its center corresponding to the movement of the swinging part on its center, which willt-urn the arm H rearward, as from the position in Fig. 1 to that seen in Fig. 6, in a plane parallel with the axis of the cylinder. The' rear movement of the ejector must not occur until after the cylinder has been turned so far from the frame that the heads of all the cartridges are exposed outside the frame, and that its movement may commence at such time a' shoulder, b', is made on the periphery of the ring b, and a corresponding shoulder, b2, on the frame below, so that as soon as the shoulder b on the ring strikes the shoulder b2 on the frame the lfurther turning of the ring b will be arrested. Then as the swinging part continues its movement to the position, say, as indicated in broken lines, Fig. 3, the ring will remain stationary and the a-rmH will be turned,

as before described, because of its engagement with the ring, from the position in Fig. 1 to that seen in Fig. 6, and force the ejector rearward from the cylinder, as seen in Fig. 6.

To automatically return the ejector and the arm H, l provide a spring within the ejectorrod, which is made hollow for this purpose, as seen in Fig. l. To apply this spring a spindle, L, is arranged through the swinging part concentric with the cylinder, and, extending through the ejectoiiml, is provided with a head, l, ot' the internal diameter ot' the ejectorrod, the spindle itseltbeing of smaller diameter, and so that the spring L' may Work in the space between the ejector-rod and the spindle L, one end bearing rearward against thel head.

lon the spindle, the other end bearing againsta seat on the interior of the ejector-rod, as seen in Figs. l and (i. The spindle being stationary, the rear movement of the ejector, as before described, presses the spring, as seen in Fig. 6; hence so soon as the swinging part begins its return the spring reacts, throwing t'orward the follower d and the arm H, so that they will arrive at their closed position when the swinging part has been returned to the point where the engagement ot' the shoulders bf and b2 was made; then from that point the continued closing movement turns the ring back to its place lof rest, or point from which it started. 'lh-us the simple act of throwing thecylinder outward causes the ejector to move iearward and eject t-he shells from the cylin- The followera is made eccentric to the center-pin to avoid cutting away so much of the swinging part as would be necessary ifitwere made concentric, because the spindle L must be concentric, and if the follower be made in the form of a sleeve to surround the spindle it would necessarily out away the swinging part above the spindle; hence Iarrange iteeoen lric, and make a longitudinal groove in its upper surface,within which thespindle Lrests, sothat no portion of the swinging part is cut away4 --within the periphery of the follower, as seen in Eig. 8. The arm H engages the follower by means of the said arm` and within which 'that end works.

To prevent the ejector turning upon its center and thereby changing its proper relative position to the chambers, I make a longitudinal slot, m, (see Fig. 4,)in the ejectorrod,pref

erably upon opposite sides, and through the IOO IIO

head lof the spindle L, I place a pin, n, as seen in Fig. 4, which will extend into the slots in the ejector-rod, but so that the slots in the rodwill permit it to pass freely outor in, guided by 'said pin, and this pin I also employ to hold the cylinder in place in its bearing by extendingthe ends of the pin, as seen in Fig. 4,-ontothe'rear surface of the cylinder, as at r, Fig. 4, the cylinder butting against the shoulder s near the forward end. The shoulder s at the forward end and the pin r at the rear end prevention- It is desirable to automatically lock the swin g ing part when the cylinder is returned to its place ot' rest, but so that the person using the revolver may readily release that locking device, so thatv by a quick twisting motion given to the revolver by hand the cylinder may be swung outward and the shells ejected without necessarily applying the hand thereto. 'lo thus lock the parts together 1 arrange a bolt, N, in thc frame in rear of the pivot Ez and eccentric thereto, with a recess in the end ofthe pivot, into which the said bolt N may enter, as seen in Fig. 1, and when so entered the pivot cannot turn, because of the eccentricity ot' the bolt. The bolt N works in a line substantially parallel with the axis of the bolt, and is operated by a lever, t, hung upon a pivot, t', above the bolt, one arm of the lever engaging the bolt. The otherarin engages witha lever hung upon a pivot, u, one arm, u', of which stands outside the frame in convenient position for the person using therevolver to place his thumb upon, as seen in Figs. 1 and 5, so that with his thumb he may-turn the said lever backward in a plane parallel with the side ot' the frame. The other arm,u2, of the lever is within the frame, and with this arm the upper arm of the lever t engages, as seen in Fig. 1', so t-hati' the person holding the revolver presses the arm or thumb-piece u of the lever-backward, as seen in broken lines, Fig. 1, the boltN will be withdrawn, as also seen in broken lines, which will unlock the pivot and permit the swinging part, with the cylinder, to be thrown outward, as before described.

To automatically throw the bolt into its locking position, a spring, P, (seen in broken lines, Fi g.1) is arranged upon the inside of the frame to throw theupp'er lever, u' ,for ward, and which imparts the force of the spring -to the bolt to give to it also a forward movement, so that as soon as the swinging part and the cylinder are i retnrnedvto place the bolt will automatically y into its locking-place in the pi-vot E2.

The usual shield, R, in rear of the cylinder is p'rovided;fbut as this must surround the ratchet in order to come into its proper relation to the rear end of the cylinder, that part may be moved longitudinally toward and from thecylinder, and that this movementrnay occur at the same time that the swinging part is unlocked, an engagement is made between the thumb-piece or arm u of the unlocking-lever and the-slide R-, to which the part R of the shield is att-ached by means ot' a tooth, w, above the pivot of that lever, as seen in Fig. 1, so that as the thumb-piece or arm u is drawn rearward the part R ot' the shield will also be drawn rearward to uncover the recess in which the cylinder-ratchet Fz lies. The movable part ofthe shield also serves as the locking mechanism to hold thc cylinder and swinging part in place by means ot' a stud, R2', in the front face or" the part lt, (see Figs. 4 and 13,) correspond ing to and so as to enter a central recess, R3, in the rear face of the ratchet. (See Fig. 6.) In that case the bolt N and its intermediate connections may he dispensed with; but I prefer to employ the bolt in connection with the part R. The same spring, P, which operates to throw the bolt also serves to return the part R. of the shield, and because of the connection through the levers between the bolt and movable part of the shield that part oi' the shield cannot return until the bolt is thrown into its locking position. The swinging part is secured in itsv place to prevent longitudinal movement by means of an annular groove, y, around the pivot, and a stud in the frame entering said groove, as'indicated in broken lines, Fig. 1.

To prevent the return ofthe cylinder, as the pawl which gives it its rotation drags down over the teeth of the ratchet, a locking device of some character is necessary, which will engage the cylinder so soon as it is turned to the proper position to present one chamber for dis charge. To thus engage thecylinder l employ the slide R', to which the part R ot' theshield is attached, as. a spring-pawl--that is to say,A4 I-make a shoulder, on the end of 'the slide, as seen in Fig. 5, inclined upon its back, so that while the cylinder is free to revolve in an advancing direction the shoulder a: will enga ge one of the teeth ot' the ratchet so soon as the corresponding chamber is presented in linel with the barrel, and so as to prevent the return of the cylinder when the pawl drops to engage the next tooth. The back of the shoulder fr being inclined, the advance movement of the cylinder brings the teeth of the ratchet against the inclined side and forces the slide rearward IOO IIO

5 movement,and'mechanism substantiallysueh as described in thc said swinging part and between the ejector and the stationary part oi' the frame, so that by the engagement of the said mechanism with the ejector and said stationary part ofthe frame during the last part of the opening or outward swinging movement of the cylinder said mechanism will impart to said ejector a rear movement, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. In a revolver, the swinging part E', having the center-pin attached to or made a part of it, and hung upon a pivot in the frame below the cylinder-opening, the axis of said pivot substantially parallel with said center-pin, the cylinder arranged so as to revolve on said center-pin, and so thatthesaid swinging part, with the cylinder, will swing outward from its place in the frame, turning upon said pivot as its center' of mot-ion, combined with an ejector arranged on a rod in said cylinder for longitudinal movement, an arm pivoted in and turning with the said swinging part, and mechanism, substantially such as described, to engage said arm during the last part of the outward or swinging movement, whereby the said arm is turned on its pivot in a plane parallel with the axis of the cylinder and engaged with the ejector to impart to -it the rear movement required to throw the shell from the cylinder, substantially as described.

3. In a revolver, the combination of the swinging part E', carrying the center-pin with the cylinder thereon, and arranged to swing upon a pivot in the frame below the cylinder, the axis of said pivot parallel with the axis of the cylinder, the star-shaped ejector F', arranged upon a rod within the center-pin and cylinder, the follower a, arranged in the swinging part forward of the ejectonrod, and so as ,5 to bear against the forward end of said rod,

the arm H, hung upon a pivot at right angles tothe axis on which the swinging part turns,

one end engaged with said follower, the loose ring b on the pivot of the swinging part, and so as-to engage the said arm, thesaid ring provided with a stop to arrest its movement with the swinging part before the movement of the swinging part ceases, such arrest of said ring imparting to said arm a movement in a plane parallel with the axis ot' the cylinder, and through said follower give a corresponding movement to the ejector, substantially as described.

4. In a revolver, the combination ofthe swinging part E', carrying the centenpiu with the cylinder thereon, and arranged upon'a pivot in theframe below the cylinder, paral'lei with the axis of the cylinder, the said swinging part and the cylinder which it carries independent ofthe barrel, and arranged to swing upon said pivot in a plane parallel with the axis of theA cylinder and of the barrel, the starshaped ejector F', arranged upon a hollow rod within thecenter-pin, andan arm hinged in said swinging part, to be moved in a plane parallel with the axis of the cylinder, but turning with the swinging part, the said arm engaged with the said ejector F', and a stop on the stationary part of the frame, with which the said arm will engage during the last part ot' the opening movement of the frame, with a headed spindle, L, longitudinally through said ejector-rod, and

-a spring within the ejectorrod bearing against the head of the spindle at one end, the opposite end seated within said ejector rod, substantially as and for the purpose described.

5. In arevolver,thecom hinationoftheswing-- ing part E', carrying the center-piu with the cylinder thereon, and arranged to swing upon a pivot in the frame below the cylinder, the axis of the said pivot parallel with the axis of the cylinder, with the locking-bolt N arranged to engage said pivot at a point eccentric with its center when the swinging part and cylinder are in place inthe frame, and mechanism, substantially such as described, to withdraw said bolt, substantially as and for the purpose specied.

6. In arevolver, the combinationofthe swinging part E', carrying the" center-pin with the cylinder thereon, and arranged to swing upon a pivot in the frame below the cylinder, the axis of said pivot 'parallel with the axis ofthe c vlinder, the part B. of the shield arranged in the frame to slide longitudinally toward and from the rear end of the cylinder, and mechanism, substantially such as described, to impart such moveme'nt to said part of the shield, substantially as described.

7. [n.arevolver, the combination of theswinging part E', carrying the center-pin with the cylinder thereon, and arranged to swing upon a pivot in the frame below the cylinder, the axis of said pivot parallel with the axis of the cylinder, the part R of the shield arranged in the frame to slide longitudinally toward and from the rear end of the cylinder, and mechanism, substantially such as described,- to impart such movement to said part of the shield, the facey of the said part R provided with a shoulder,

a', inclined upon its back, to serve as a dog to engage the ratchet and preventits return move ment, substantially as described.

8. In a revolver, the combination of the swinging part E', carrying thecenter-piu with the cylinder thereon, and arranged to swing upon a pivot in the frame below the cylinder,

the axis of said pivot parallel with the axis of the cylinder, the part R of the shield arran gedl upon a slide to move longitudinally toward and from the rear end of the cylinder, a lever hung upon a pivot, u, and engaged with said slide, the arm u' of said lever outside the frame to form a thumb-piece by which said slide is moved, substantially as described.V

9. In a revolver, the combination of the swinging part E', carrying the center-pin with ICC the cylinder thereon, and arranged to swing upon a pivot in the frame below the cylinder, the axis of said pivot liarallel with the axis of the cylinder, the part R of the shield arranged upon a slide to move longitudinally toward and from the rear end of the cylinder, the bolt N arranged to eceentrioally engage the pivot of the swinging part when said part is in its closed position, a lever hung upon a pivot, a, arranged to engage above its pivot with the slide of the part It and below its pivot with a second lever, t, which said second lever eugages the said bolt N, the said rst lever provided with a thumb-piece, a', outside the frame, whereby said partit and bolt are siniulta neously moved, substantially as described.

10. In a revolver, the combination of the swinging part E', carrying the center-pin with the cylinder thereon, and arranged to swing upon a pivot in the frame below the cylinder, the axis of said pivot parallel with the axis of the cylinder, 'the part lt of the shield arranged upon a slide to move longitudinally toward and from the rear end of the cylinder, the bolt N arranged to eecentrieally engage the pivot of the swinging part when said part is in its Closed. position, a lever hung upon a pivot, u,

arranged lo engage above its pivot with the slide of the part R and below its pivot with a seoond lever` t, which said second lever engages the said bolt N, the said rst lever provided with a thumb-piece, u, outside the frame, whereby said part R and bolt are simultaneous ly moved to the rear, and a spring, P, whereby said parts are simultaneously returned, substantially as described.

1l. In a revolver, the combination of the swinging part E', carrying the center-pin with the cylinder thereon, and arranged to swing upon a pivot in the frame below the cylinder, the axis of said pivot parallel with the axis of the cylinder, the part R of the shield arranged upon a slide to move longitudinally toward and from the rear end of the cylinder, a lever hung upon a pivot, u, and engaged with said slide, the arm u' of said lever outside the frame to form a thumb-piece by which said slide is moved, the said part lt provided with a stud, r2, to enter a corresponding recess at the rear end of the cylinder, substantially as described. 5o

WILLIAM MASON.

Witnesses E. F. BODWELL, THOMAS BOYD. 

